Many areas in the world are currently being devastated by record breaking wildland fires this season. To enable firefighters to respond to these fire, the University of Nevada, Reno Fire Science Academy (FSA) hosted the BLM Rookie School and Wildland Fire Academy from June 5t-10, 2011.

The Wildland Fire Academy curriculum consists of Wildland Firefighter (FFT I), NWGC S-290 Intermediate Wildland Fire Behavior, NWCG S-230 Crew Boss/Single Resource, and NWCG S-231 Engine Boss/Single Resource. Each of these classes can be taken individually or as an entire block. Students that successfully complete one or all of these courses, and the subsequent position task book, will receive the FSA NWCG compliant Red Card displaying the updated qualifications.

Private contract firefighters should be especially interested in this program as the requirements for Third Party Qualification Certifications (Red Cards) are continuously being increased.

Owners/managers of corporate and industrial facilities that face a potential wildland fire threat may greatly benefit by providing this type of training to their emergency response personnel or brigades. Training in these instances may be customized to meet individual client needs and do not necessarily need to meet NWCG standards if the client requests. Details may be provided on a case-by-case basis by the FSA